Finance ministry inks MoU with UCA

KABUL): The University of Central Asia (UCA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Finance on awarding a Post-Graduate Certificate in the Policy Analysis (PGCPA) programme.

The ministry said on Saturday the agreement enabled the two sides to further engage on mutually agreed programmes and allowed UCA to develop relevant training and research initiatives.

The memorandum was signed by Minister of Finance Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhiwal and UCA Director General Dr Bohdan Krawchenko. UCA’s Institute of Public Policy and Administration was launched in 2011 as the first initiative of UCA’s Graduate School of Development.

The Institute concentrates on economic policy, the ways in which government action can promote equitable growth; and on the management of public services to examine how programmes can be made more effective and efficient.

In 2012, IPPA organised a symposium on “Trade Cooperation between Central Asia and Afghanistan” in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It also hosted a 10-day training programme on trade policy and practice with Carleton University for Afghan civil servants.

“I am sure the partnership between University of Central Asia and the Ministry of Finance, as initiated by the Post-Graduate Certificate in Policy Analysis (PGCPA), will go a long way in improving skills and knowledge of Afghan civil servants in public policymaking…” said Zakhiwal.

Dr Bohdan Krawchenko, UCA director-general said: “Understanding that the issues facing Afghanistan are analytically complex and there are few easy solutions, the objective of this programme is to help improve the analytical skills of civil servants dealing with formidable policy agendas.”

Nurjehan Mawani, diplomatic representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), said: “By bringing the expertise of UCA in building capacities of civil servants, AKDN is broadening its programming in Afghanistan to include university-level training for central government staff.  This is an initiative that will grow over time.”

pr/mud

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